Rituals
Yom Kippur 5781: Yizkor For COVID-19 Victims
For Yom Kippur, Chaplain Barry Pitegoff offers a Yizkor prayer for COVID-19 victims. [Read more…]
yizkor
Blog
Guest Blog Post: Yizkor – Remembering Our Ancestors in Pandemic Times
Reb Simcha Raphael links the observance of Yizkor in a time of public health lockdown with an effort to make a more solid spiritual connection. [Read more…]
Reflections on Aging
We Are the Ones God Sends
Rabbi Stephen Karol discusses the value of Yizkor, the service of remembrance, and our role comforting the bereaved — and ourselves. [Read more…]
Reflections on Aging
A Harvest of Memories
JSA contributor Rabbi Stephen Karol links the farming cycle and harvest to memories and Yizkor. [Read more…]
Slider
Be Culturally Radical: Live As If You Are Dying
Reb Simcha Raphael provides some reflections on Yizkor. [Read more…]
Blog
“May God comfort you…” Upon Ending Shloshim For My Father
Editor’s Note: As Passover ends, we are again given the opportunity, in ritual fashion, for one of our tradition’s Yizkor services. To remember is a gift. This guest blog post for Pesach Yizkor is from [Read more…]
Talmud Torah
Yom Kippur and the Tradition of Remembering Souls on the Other Side
Editor’s Note: This commentary is adapted from Rabbi Raphael’s April 1, 2015 article in the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. On Yom Kippur, it is traditional to recite Yizkor prayers in memory of deceased loved ones. The [Read more…]
D'vrei Torah
Memories of my Mom and Dad — Yizkor 2013
Our Jewish calendar provides us with time to remember those we have loved. On their Yarzheits, or anniversary of passing, our thoughts turn to our mothers or fathers, our sisters or brothers, our husbands or [Read more…]
Reflections on Aging
Reflections on Aging- The High Holy Days
Once again I am floored by how close the High Holy Days are. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to me as I have been working to line up Torah and Haftarah readers and many [Read more…]